#rivervale_lodge

" I shall pass on your well wishes for her entropic fate, Mountain" A somber nod "how are you doing? I feel I have talked too much about myself and proved my risk"

"I'm well, thank you for asking. My manners, however, are not. Forgive me. May I offer you tea?"

"oh, i would be delighted" a beaming smile

Frank nods, and stands. "Care to take it in the kitchen?" He offers.

She nods and follows him to the kitchenn

He sets about making tea. He is not an expert but he knows where the sluagh things are kept.

Lily watches and might give a opinionn

Frank incorporates her suggestions.

"And then, a light stiring widdershins, to open the tea to news possiblities, or the opposite way if you hope to finnd closure"

"But surely it should be stirred so by the one seeking enlightenment?" he offers her a serving.

A smile "Thank you" She stirs it widdershins

Frank nods and stirs his own, and takes a drink.

He waits to see if Lily has other business on her mind, but without rushing her. He knows manner.

s

She seems to savor the silence, but Frank is patient, so after a mere three minutes of total silence, she says "It is my understanding that the Nunehi of Renaissance have broken with their war mongering mainland kin"

"Broken with them how?"

"Well, wha I hear from a sluagh there is..."

"that some of the tribes around Fenix have accepted peace, where war chiefs in the mainland consider them wrong for doing so."

Frank frowns, but nods with a soft noise. "Hmmph."

"yes, hmmph indeed" She nods "the flamefree has created a division in the Nunnehi... a division some wouldl ike to capitalize upon"

Frank drums his fingers on the table softly.

"annyway, that is what one hears in proper society" A sip of her tea

"Miss Thomas, I'm afraid I have a matter or two that Chieftess Brekke left for me to tend to. Will you think me a boor if I excuse myself for a time?"

"Oh my, well, one must not keep trolls from their duty. Miss Zara says it makes them anxious and unsettled. Of course, Mountain, thank you so much for the tea, and you are no boor" A smile

"You are welcome here at the Lodge, please feel free to stay." Frank stands, pauses "Miss Lily.... if there's anything we can do to help your family.... just say the word. It doesn't have to be public knowledge."

"you're a very nice man sir, and a gentleman as well"

Frank bows; he -is- a knight, after all. "And you are a lady, Miss Lily. Please excuse me."

She nods ..and once he leaves ,looks left, then right, and seeing no else, sucks up the rest of her tea through the swizzle straw Connnor gave her

Frank, meanwhile, heads out to the FarmTrod, and away.